Street Without a Name

• Book: Street without a Name: Childhood and Other Misadventures in Bulgaria
• Location: Bulgaria
• Author: Kapka Kassabova

“Street Without a Name: Childhood and Other Misadventures in Bulgaria ” by Kapka Kassabova is an absolutely brilliant book. I’ve been asked to write about it and although it has been a while since I have read it, I still remember how impressed and captivated I was by it.
Kapka’s writing is not new to me, our paths have crossed in New Zealand many years ago (I am also a Bulgarian who has travelled a bit and finally immigrated to New Zealand) I witnessed – from afar – her road to becoming a very fine young writer.
I was grateful for the beautifully written stories describing one of the most difficult periods of our recent history, seen through the eyes of an innocent child and young teenager going through experiences that no child should have to deal with. The transition from a communist regime to the free market society is a very complex and difficult process that can be perceived in many different ways. However, Kapka’s version felt very familiar and close to my personal journey. The book was written intelligently the descriptions were vivid and humorous, which despite the negativity in some of the characters, we all feel ashamed of, made the story really entertaining and uplifting. In between of course is the immigration….the lost identity and the life to be re-build all over again….the emotions were really powerful.
Kapka made me feel again the joy and sadness of being Bulgarian, I understood perfectly what she wanted to say on every page, what she meant to say and what she thought but couldn’t say it as I felt I was reading my own story I have revisited my childhood and my school, my youth, scrolled down my favorite streets in Sofia, visited my grandparents during summer vacation, imagined the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and I even felt the smell of freshly baked chestnuts we use to buy on the streets of Sofia during Autumn…
I would highly recommend Kapka’s book as it provides honest, delightful and thoughtful insight to Bulgaria’s heritage, traditions and culture.
Overall it’s Kapka’s optimism and her well-deserved feeling of pride in her quest that impressed me the most.

Back to book